Freestyle rap is a musical genre where the rap artist raps without any prepared lyrics. The rap can be performed using musical instruments or a capella.http://www.freestylerap.org/ During the 1980s, the word freestyle meant written rap lyrics that didn’t focus on any specific subject matter. The term freestyle was used because the rap appeared to be improvised and because rappers could rap and write about anything. The song can veer off in any direction or talk about anything. This definition is sometimes called "Old School" freestyle or true freestyle.http://www.freestylerap.org/

The present definition came into effect in the early 90s through the works of Freestyle Fellowship and Eminem. This style of rapping did not receive much respect during its early years. It was viewed as something rappers would do if they couldn’t write lyrics. Since then, its popularity has made it a legitimate form of rap music.http://www.freestylerap.org/

Even though it’s spontaneous, there are several things that can be done to learn the craft more quickly:http://www.freestylerap.org/

• Learn rap lingo - Rap has its own vocabulary which freestyle rappers often use. The Internet is a good place to get information on rap lingo, be it the figurative or metaphorical language.
• Prepare Some Lyrics - Write some possible rhymes first. Think of them as building blocks. When writing, use double puns. This helps make the lyrics ambiguous to give deeper meanings to the song. Like a painting, a good rap song should allow the listeners to interpret it in different ways.
• Practice Makes Perfect - The more practice a rapper has, the better he will become. Just start rapping. The learning curve will be easier when rapping about a subject the rapper is most familiar with. It can be about oneself, his family, likes, dislikes, etc.
• Believe in One's Self - The lyrics might be a struggle at first, but no one becomes a master rapper on their first try. Freestyle rap is all about improvisation.

A freestyle rap battle is when two or more rappers have a rapping contest against each other in front of an audience, where most of the lyrics are insults directed at the other rapper. These insults will have the rhyme from one rapper to the other. One rapper goes first, then after he's done its the other persons turn and then someone decides who was better.http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=rap%20battle

Freestyle rap battles were brought to the forefront of hip-hop music through rapper Eminem's movie biography "8 Mile". As shown in the movie, rappers use rap battles to showcase their talent in hopes of being discovered.